Global Water Partnership Central Asia and Caucasus (GWP CACENA)
Report For March 2019
www.gwp.org
GWP Central Asia and Caucasus (GWP CACENA) c/o ICARDA-CAC (GWP CACENA/IWMI), Apt 123, Block 6, Osiyo str, Tashkent, 100000, Uzbekistan Tel: +998 712 652 555, Fax: +998 711 665 097 Website: www.gwp.org
1. PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS IN GAVAR AND HRAZDAN MARZPETARANS
The “European Union Water Initiative Plus for the Eastern Partnership” (EUWI+) project, gathered together the experts and water stakeholders, as established by the European water framework directive, to seek their views on the future for waters in the Sevan Lake and Hrazdan River basins on March 19 and 21, 2019. The meetings took place in Hrazdan on March 19, 2019 in Kotayk marzpetaran (Hrazdan t.) and on March 21, 2019, in Gegharqunik marzpetaran (Gavar t.).
In the frames of the EUWI+ project, together with the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, the process of the development of the Sevan Lake and Hrazdan River basin plans has been started. The plan describes the environmental objectives for the river and the measures to achieve them.
These first consultation fora - gathering 50 local stakeholders including in particular governmental authorities, basin organisations, residential and business water users, the scientific community, NGOs, journalists and experts – were seeking their views on the main challenges to guarantee the water quality, to share the water resource, to secure the drinking water, to reduce pollutions and to preserve people’s health.
These one day meetings gave the opportunity to the participants to give their critically assess on the progress of river basin plans, identify consensus and the main challenges for the respective river basins. This dialogue is very important and the results will be taken in account for the next steps of the development of the river basin plans in order to define objectives, measures and actions to achieve them.
These stakeholder meetings are part a broader process of public consultation of local state and non-state actors which lasted from 12 March to 12 April, 2019, where different expertise perspectives, opinions and information will be gathered to enrich the development of the river basin plan and its program of measures.
A short questionnaire and documents available on websites
• http://mnp.am • http://www.euwipluseast.eu > Armenia > Public Consultation A second phase of consultation will be organised on the draft river basin management plan in 2020.
Context:
Launched in September 2016 for a duration of four years, the EUWI+ project is the biggest commitment of the EU to the water sector in the EaP countries. It supports the six partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) to align their legislation with EU policy on water management, with a focus on transboundary rivers. It provides support to the development of a long-term vision of water sector reforms in the Partner Countries. The project is implemented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and an EU Consortium comprising the Austrian Environment Agency (Austria) and the International Office for Water (France).
2. WORLD WATER DAY IN ASHTARAK COMMUNITY
Within the framework of EUWI+ “Communication assistance to support the implementation of the action plan for participation RBM Planning in Armenia” project “Country Water Partnership” scientific, ecological NGO (CWP Armenia) implemented information campaign dedicated to World Water Day 2019 “Leaving no one behind” in Ashtarak basic school N 1 named after Nerses Ashtaraketsi.
The objective of the information campaign was to increase awareness, change attitudes and shape culture on human rights to water among schoolchildren. Since March 11, 2019 CWP Armenia had launched an information campaign in Ashtarak basic school N 1. During the campaign the schoolchildren were involved in discussions on efficient water basin management, water as a human right, importance of the Kassagh river and its problems. On 22 March, the event (open lesson) on WWD in Ashtarak N 1 school was organized. Representatives of Aragatsotn Marzpetaran and Ashtarak Municipality took part in the event.
Representatives of CWP Armenia presented the importance of World Water Day and the meaning of its theme “Leaving no one behind” which aims to allow all people in all countries to benefit from socio-economic development and to achieve the full realisation of human rights, without discrimination on the basis of gender, age, race, language, religion, political (or other) opinions, national or social origin, property, disability, residency status (including citizenship, residency, immigration, refugee, statelessness, etc.) or any other social, economic or political status. During the event schoolchildren represented the importance of Kasagh river for Ashtarak community and the role of water from different groups’ viewpoint (“Water for all women”, “Water for all children”, “Water for all rural people”) and they suggested some ideas how to protect Kasagh river. They represented their ideas in different ways: songs, case studies, poetry and etc. At the end of the event eco-bags with Project logos and other little gifts were given to the students for active participation in the event.
3. WORLD WATER DAY (PURE WATER Project)
The USAID-funded PURE-Water Project and 12 partner communities, in collaboration with “Coca-Cola Hellenic Armenia” company celebrated the World Water Day in Vedi municipality hall on March 25, this year. The event aimed at increasing public awareness on efficient management of Ararat Valley water resources, through highlighting the importance of community residents’ engagement in the protection of their water resources. The event was attended by the USAID Sustainable Development Office Director Lyla Andrews Bashan, who highlighted PURE Water Project contribution in the water resources management field, aimed at increasing civic engagement in the partner communities.
During the event, the Pure-water team presented the overview of the World Water Day, as well as the practical skills acquired by the communities’ teachers, active groups during the earlier conducted “Drinking Water disinfection” seminars. The event also marked the official ceremony of distributing the drinking water chlorine identification tool kits to the project target communities’ schools, with the help of which the Project had implemented the mentioned
seminars. The teachers of Ararat and Armavir marzes who were actively involved in the seminars in their turn shared their experiences as well as presented the sampling results.
4. Textbook on IWRM
A textbook “Integrated Water Resources Management, Water Resources Use and Protection” was prepared and submitted to the publisher for publication. CWP-Azerbaijan Chairman Mammed Asadov is one of the authors of this manual. The manual can be used by teachers and students of the Baku State University and the Azerbaijan Architectural and Construction University, as well as specialists from research and design institutes and other organizations.
5. Conference "Water Policy in Georgia"
Date: 22 March 2019 Place: Tbilisi, Georgia Organizers: CWP-Georgia, the Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth Georgia, the Sweden Alumni Network Georgia Participants: Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, water managers, Chairman of the National Commission on Energy and Water Supply, NGOs, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, private companies, international organizations (Total: 40 people).
Country Water Partnership Georgia in cooperation with the Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth Georgia and the Sweden Alumni Network Georgia organized the Conference "Water Policy in Georgia" devoted to the World Water Day held on March 22, 2019 in Tbilisi under the motto #LeavingNoOneBehind.
The conference considered and discussed the following issues: - New water law of Georgia; - Regulation Impact Assessment; - Climate Change Impact on Water Resources of Georgia; - Basin Plan Development within the EUWI+ project; - Hydro-energy Strategy; - Land reclamation & Irrigation Systems of Georgia; - Tariff policy in Water Supply.
Participants communicated with Ms. Maria Stherstrom Lantz (Water Innovation in Stockholm) by video- conference.
CWP-Georgia Chairman Georgi Dzamukashvili made a presentation “Global Water Partnerships in Georgia”.
6. Conference “Closer to People – Stronger Civil Society”
Date: 29 March 2019 Place: Tbilisi, Georgia Organizers: The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Georgian National Platform and the Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative under support of the Government of Georgia Participants: Prime Minister of Georgia, ministers, NGOs (incl. CWP-Georgia), international organizations, diplomatic corps (Total: 200 people).
According to the Prime Minister, the Modern State needs a strong Civil Society, which plays an important role in the social and economic development of the country. The conference organized parallel thematic sessions. Ms. Nino Chkhobadze (CWP- Georgia) at the session “Energy, Environment and Climate” made a presentation “Water resources and their effective use”.
7. Two meetings on waste management
Date: 3,5 March 2019 Place: Tbilisi, Georgia Organizers: CWP-Georgia, the Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth Georgia Participants: NGOs, business community (Total: 25 people).
The aim of the meetings was to discuss issues on resposibility of manufacturers for waste management.
The meetings addressed the general principles of extended producer responsibilities arising from the Associated Agreement of Georgia with the EU. In particular, the draft Resolution of the Government of Georgia “On Approval of Technical Regulations on the Management of Waste of Packaging Materials” was discussed. The document is a good tool for reducing sources of water pollution. According to experts, the adoption of such a document contributes to the formation of a waste management system.
Participants adopted a declaration on the producer’s responsibilities regarding waste.
8. Discussing the report on waste management in Georgia
Date: 7 March 2019 Place: Tbilisi, Georgia Participants: CWP-Georgia, local administration, experts on environment protection, the city government, local people (Total: 40 people).
The experts noted some negative issues related to water: - The chemical composition of groundwater has not been studied; - Characteristic of the nearest water body where wastewater is discharged should be investigated; - Water discharge and water characterictics isn’t known; - The Coastal Hydrographic Network isn’t investigated.
9. The clean-up campaign devoted to the World Water Day
About 300 people from local administration, the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, as well Swedish Ambassador to Georgia, Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation, volunteers, students, schoolchildren, teachers, local people took part in the clean-up campaign organized by CWP-Georgia together with the Greens Movement of Georgia on March 20 in Rustavi. About 3 hectares of land near Kura river were cleaned and trees were planted. In the interview Ms. Nino Chkhobadze told about importance of the World Water Day and water policy challenges.
10. Poetic Evening
CWP-Georgia took part in the Poetic Evening “Water and Poetry” dedicated to the World Water Day. This event was organized by the Caucasian House (The Centre for Cultural Relations) in Tbilisi.
Poets and young actors recited poems of Georgian poets devoted to water. The Georgian folk songs were sounded. Ms. Nino Chkhobadze informed the participants about water resources of Georgia. CWP-Georgia Chairman Georgi Dzamukashvili informed the participants about CWP-Georgia’s activity. Participants were also briefed on the “Leaving No One Behind” campaign dedicated to the World Water Day in 2019.
11. Public Consultation on the Khrami-Debed River Basin management plan
Date: 21 March 2019 Place: Bolnisi, Georgia Organizers: Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Participants: government agencies, local administration, local people, NGOs, private organizations, as well as the EU representatives and some international organizations (Total: 50 people).
CWP-Georgia took part in the Public Consultation on Khrami-Debed River Basin management plan within the EUWI+ project. The event was devoted to celebrating the World Water Day. Participants were informed about progress in preparing the basin plan. Participants then were divided into groups to investigate main challenges and to develop recommendations. https://www.facebook.com/euwiplus/ https://www.euwipluseast.eu/en/
12. WWD in Kyrgyzstan
Date: 20 March 2019 Place: Bishkek Organizer: CWP-Kyrgyzstan Participants: teachers and students of the Kyrgyz National Agrarian University named after K.I. Skryabin.
CWP-Kyrgyzstan joined the “LeavingNoOneBehind” campaign to celebrate the World Water Day by organizing a discussion “Water for People – Water for Future” among young people.
13. World Water Day in Mongolia
Date: 21 March 2019 Organizer: CWP-Mongolia, Mongolian Association of Hydrogeologists Participants: Ministry of Environment and Tourism, CWP-Mongolia, Mongol-Us state-owned enterprise, Mongolian university of Science and Technology, Union of Water Professional Associations, the water related NGOs, various agencies, entities, students (Total: 40 people)
The World Water Day was celebrated by organizing various events, competitions demonstrating importance of water in human being.
The one-day training was held in the Water Trekking Point at Khundlin Uul. There are about 20 points which separate the water basins in the world. This point separates the Arctic basin, Pacific Ocean basin and internal drainage system it will professionally useful to visit for students and water specialists. The trip was open to anyone who are willing to participate and this was practical and educational trip.
The purpose of the training was as follows:
• To acquaint with geological, hydrogeological, hydrological features of the area, the history of discovery of the point, the possibilities of how to use the Water trekking point scientifically; • To gather water specialists in one place; • To give major direction to the students who are majoring in hydrogeology; • To inform about the importance of this point; • To expand the communication between water specialists; • To organise the competitions among the specialists; • To celebrate the World Water Day.
It was a great event for the water specialists gathering together and have training from the older specialists. About 60 people participated in the field training trip.
Mr. Batsukh.N conducted the training and taught the following issues:
-The history of the discovery of the Water trekking point;
-The geological, hydrogeological and hydrological features of the basin;
-The benefits of the Water trekking point;
-The science possibilities of the Water trekking point.
The water crossing point at Khundlin Uul, Mongolia is located in three watershed boundaries and where precipitation is low and evapotranspiration is high. This water crossing point of three watershed boundaries such as Arctic drainage, Pacific Ocean basin and internal drainage system is located 60 km from Ulaanbaatar city in Khundlun mountain of Erdene soum in Tuv province. Coordinates are located in north longitude 47039′06″ and east latitude 107031′28″ in the elevation 1854m. Three-sided statue has built on the top of the mountain and each side expresses three basins.
This Water trekking point in Khundlun mountain had been discovered by the Water Exploration and Scientific Institute [old name] and the Water Institute of Hungary on the basis of their joint research results in 1971-1975.
Mongolia has limited freshwater resources distributed unevenly throughout the country, rivers flow to the state border, and water quality of some regions doesn’t meet hygiene requirements.
In order to spend the day healthy and actively, after the training few fun games have been organized.
14. Discussion on Strengthening water institution in Mongolia
Venue: The Urgoo hall of the Ulaanbaatar hotel Date: 20th of March, 2019 Participants: specialists and delegates from ministries and other state agencies (Total:21 people).
The purpose of the discussion:
to strengthen water institution, to identify and discuss the structure of water agency and its establishment.
The discussion was very helpful to make progress in establishing Water Agency. Establishing the Water agency is definitely the big step to strengthening the water institution in Mongolia in time when centralized governance of water and its relations is needed.
15. Celebrating the Navruz (Muslim new year) and the World Water Day
Date: 30-31 March 2019 Place: Dushanbe, Tajikistan Organizers: CWP-Tajikistan, Institute of Water Problems, Hydropower and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan Participants: invited scientists, experts, young people (Total: 41 participants)
CWP- Tajikistan in cooperation with the Institute of Water Problems, Hydropower and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan organized festive occasions dedicated to the Navruz and the World Water Day.
On 30 march people celebrated the Navruz at the holiday centre situated in the Romit gorge. There were organized a lecture "Navruz: History and Modernity" and competition of national coisine and dance.
On 31 March at the Conference Hall of the Institute of Water Problems Hydropower and Ecology in Dushanbe, the dialogue dedicated to the World Water Day was held. Participants discussed the progress results of researches in the sphere of rational use of water resources and IWRM.
16. Celebrating WWD in Uzbekistan
Date: 22 March 2019 Place: Tashkent Organizer: CWP-Uzbekistan, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIMAE). Participants: faculty and undergraduates of TIIMAE (Total: more than 100 people).
The event was dedicated to the conservation and development of water resources throughout the world. The vice- rector of the institute on behalf of the rector and CWP-Uzbekistan congratulated the participants on the World Water Day. The Vice-Rector in his speech noted that World Water Day is celebrated in order to attract public
attention to these problems. Information on the importance of the rational use of water resources and potable water is being disseminated.
17. Roundtable “IWRM implementation progress in Uzbekistan”
Date: 29 March 2019 Place: Tashkent Organizer: CWP-Uzbekistan Participants: Ministry of Water Resources, State Committee on Ecology, HYDROMET, UNDP, Agency of IFAS, SIC ICWC (Total: 22 people).
The following presentations were done: - “The Ecological Party - a new impulse in linking water and ecology problems with the state policy”; - “Concept of water sector strategy in Uzbekistan”.
CWP-Uzbekistan is a monitoring platform for SDG 6.5.1 (IWRM).
18. IWD in CACENA region https://www.gwp.org/en/CACENA/News/gwp-cacena-joins-international-womens-day-campaign/
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The Global Water Partnership’s vision is for a water secure world. Our mission is to advance governance and management of water resources for sustainable and equitable development.